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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, of Winston-Salem, will participate in a nationwide social media event Thursday which hopes to drive home the importance of wearing seat belts.

The event is the first ever launched by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) aimed at tweens, kids who are 8 – 12 years old, and kids who have yet to reach high school.

From 2009 to 2013, 1,552 children ages 8-14 died while traveling in passenger cars, SUVs and vans. In more than half of those deaths, kids were not buckled in.

“Even with all the automotive safety advancements there are still things like the seat belt are fundamental,” said Robert Gfeller, founder of Childress which does research to prevent traumatic brain injuries in adolescents.

The group is an active partner with NHTSA and will join in on the social media conversation, tweeting or retweeting messages that include #kidsbuckleup and #tweens.